Trial begins in murder solicitation case

Opening statements began Thursday morning in the case of a man accused of soliciting the murder of a confidential informant and also of a Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy.

By April WarrenStaff writer

Opening statements began Thursday morning in the case of a man accused of soliciting the murder of a confidential informant and also of a Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy.During the morning session, the state told the jury that trial evidence would prove Joshua Thomas to be guilty, while the defense attacked the credibility of state witnesses and said the evidence doesn't add up.Defendant Joshua Thomas, 40, sat next to attorney James Reich as Assistant State Attorney Susan Simmons told the six-member jury what she expected trial evidence to show.She said Thomas was arrested on Sept 5, 2012, for selling cocaine to a confidential informant. According to Simmons, Thomas sold the informant drugs four times in August of that year. The night of his arrest, Thomas also came into contact with a deputy he knew from his neighborhood.After his arrest, the state asked a judge to hold Thomas with no bond and, during a hearing on the matter, the confidential informant took the stand and testified. The state was granted the no bond request."So the defendant is stuck in jail on a no bond, phone calls are recorded, so he has to get somebody inside the jail to help him with his problem," Simmons said.She expects trial testimony to show that Thomas began soliciting inside the jail for someone to carry out the deeds.But Reich said the evidence doesn't make sense. He asked why his client would want to kill a law enforcement officer he knew and who was not involved in the case. Furthermore, he said, his client first confirmed his deal with the confidential informant two weeks before his arrest."If Joshua Thomas wanted (the confidential informant) dead, the evidence will show he had that opportunity way before he was arrested," Reich said.He also attacked the credibility of some state witnesses and said they had reason to lie for personal gain in their own pending court cases."The evidence is going to show each of these convicted felons, one of them has — all of them have, a reason to lie about Joshua Thomas," he said.Reich also said state witnesses have given statements that contradict their previous statements and further contradict statements given by other witnesses in the case.During the opening statements, Thomas's supporters lined the benches behind the defense table, quietly watching the proceedings.Circuit Judge Willard Pope is presiding over the trial. The case is expected to conclude today.Contact April Warren at 867-4065 or april.warren@ocala.com.